Noosa residents face $110 slug

Noosa ratepayers will face a $110 increase on their annual rates bill after the council hands down its budget.

Despite the 5.9% general rates increase, Noosa mayor Bob Abbot claimed his council still had the lowest rates on the Coast.

Mr Abbot said a Noosa house with an unimproved capital value (UCV) of $200,000 using a standard wheelie bin and 300 KL of water per year would incur a rates bill of $1739.90, compared to Maroochy and Caloundra council residents’ rates bill of $1885 and $1944.54 respectively.

He said a Noosa house with a UCV of $500,000 would face a rates bill of $2552.15, while Maroochy and Caloundra Council residents would be charged $3136 and $2844.45 respectively.

Noosa Council also announced an increase in its environment levy from $50 to $60.

The extra funds will be used to pay for the recent purchase of more than 400 hectares of environmentally sensitive land fronting Lake Cooroibah.

At a cost of more than $4 million, this land parcel represents the most significant environmental holding purchased by the council in recent years. Mr Abbot said the commonwealth government had contributed $1.5 million towards the purchase and additional funding was being sought from the state government.

Mr Abbot described the budget as a good mix of infrastructure and services for people.

"While big ticket infrastructure projects usually get the headlines, I am glad that funding has also been set aside to build the social fabric of our shire, while not losing sight of the value we all place on our very special environment,” Mr Abbot said.

"Budgets are all about getting the right mix for our community, looking after assets, looking after people, looking after the environment and making sure we have a healthy economy. Noosa Council has a proud tradition of getting this balance right, while making sure that the rates burden is not too high for residents. Our success has been recognised by the State Government rating us amongst the top 10 local governments across the whole of Queensland."

Highlights of the budget include completion of Eenie Creek Road Stage 3, development of Mill Place at Cooroy to include a new council library (jointly funded with the state government), the Hastings Street Streetscape project and funding towards construction of the Peregian Beach Community Centre.

Other works include joint funding with the state government to develop $2 million worth of cycle ways in Noosa, work on streetscapes at Pomona and Cooran, development of the Carpenters Lane land at Cooroy for economic development purposes, further development of the Lower Mill site at Cooroy as a community precinct and a planning study for the Tewantin By-pass at Beckman’s Road (State funding).

Mr Abbot indicated that while he was proud of the council’s commitment to these big-ticket projects, it was the small projects that provide direct support to the community that were most special. He cited the following examples :

Funding for the Pomona Community House to expand the building

Funding for the Life Education Program

Continuing the Boreen Point taxi service to assist Noosa’s community transport scheme

Supporting senior’s activities

Continuation of the Holiday Blast program for children at various Council venues

Developing a program of family events across the Shire

Supporting the implementation of the Social Plan adopted by the Council last year